The bottom line is that medical records are easier targets. It was only this year that Medicare finally stopped putting Social Security numbers on Medicare cards. It’s been mailing replacement cards to existing beneficiaries during 2018.

A stolen medical record can be used in the typical ID theft activities of obtaining loans or credit cards, opening new bank accounts, or filing false income tax returns to claim refunds. Medical records also can be used to obtain medical care, leaving you stuck with copayments and deductibles on the care.

There also will be errors in your medical history. Digital medical records can be shared rapidly among insurers and medical providers, so the errors can spread quickly. Unlike credit cards and other financial records, there aren’t standard procedures in place to correct medical records and remedy other consequences of record theft. It can take a year or longer to correct the errors, and your coverage could be canceled in some circumstances.

Children and the elderly are the usual targets of medical record theft.

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Consumers are behind the curve in protecting themselves, because medical record theft doesn’t receive much publicity. Here are a few steps you can take.

* Ask medical providers to remove these numbers from their existing records. You’re supposed to have the right to have personal information removed from medical records.

* Treat old medical documents you possess the same way as financial records. Shred them instead of throwing them away. Any records you retain should be stored securely, including bills, receipts, and diagnosis information.

* You have the right to review and receive a copy of most of your records from medical providers. The rights are spelled out in the federal regulations at 45 CFR 164.524. Just as you should with credit reports, it’s a good idea to take advantage of this right and review your records for incorrect information, fraudulent charges, treatments you didn’t receive, and personal information you want removed.

* Carefully review the “Explanation of Benefits” you receive periodically from your insurer or Medicare. These statements often are difficult to decipher, but they can reveal whether someone is using your insurance to obtain treatment under your name or a medical provider is submitting improper charges to the insurer. If you don’t understand the treatment code listed, call the provider’s billing staff for an explanation.